Robert E. Lee

Rare original 2.25 x 3.75 carte-de-visite portrait of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in a full-figure pose, dressed in his military uniform, with his DeVisme presentation sword (given to him by the ladies of Baltimore) in one hand and his gloves in the other, signed neatly on the reverse in ink, “R. E. Lee.” The reverse is also signed and inscribed by Lee’s wife, Mary Custis Lee: “For Mary Skipwith from her very sincere friend, M. C. Lee, Lexington, February 1st, 1866.” Includes a 2.25 x 4 carte-de-visite photograph of Mary Custis Lee published by Vannerson & Jones of Richmond, Virginia. In fine condition, with lightly trimmed edges. Of the eight photographs of Lee known to have been taken during the Civil War, the present is the only full-standing portrait. ‘The standing view is especially notable in that Lee is wearing both his military sash and his dress sword—the only time he was ever photographed in his sash’ (Meredith, The Face of Robert E. Lee, p. 40).